Court: Mexican Trucks Program to Proceed - Political Forum

Xotica · 09-02-2007, 09:42 AM

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Court: Mexican Trucks Program to Proceed

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Bush administration can go ahead with a pilot program to allow as many as 100 Mexican trucking companies to freely haul their cargo anywhere within the U.S. for the next year, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request made by the Teamsters Union, the Sierra Club and the nonprofit Public Citizen to halt the program.

The appeals court ruled the groups have not satisfied the legal requirements to immediately stop what the government is calling a "demonstration project," but can continue to argue their case. The trucking program is scheduled to begin Thursday.

In court papers filed this week, the Teamsters and Sierra Club argued there won't be enough oversight of the drivers coming into the U.S. from Mexico.
They also argued that public safety would be endangered in a hasty attempt by the government to comply with parts of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The trade agreement requires that all roads in the United States, Mexico and Canada to be opened to carriers from all three countries.

Full story here: The Associated Press: Court: Mexican Trucks Program to Proceed

My favorite line from the story?

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The government contends that further delays in the project will strain the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico.

You gotta be kidding me lol.

theorderoflife · 09-02-2007, 04:02 PM

We are reaching the end of the United States.

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 09-02-2007, 04:52 PM

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Originally Posted by theorderoflife

We are reaching the end of the United States.

Reaching the end because trucks can move from Mexico to the USA?

Xotica · 09-02-2007, 05:03 PM

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Originally Posted by W.E.B. Du Bois

Reaching the end because trucks can move from Mexico to the USA?

Not hardly lol. Have you ever driven in Mexico? Do you imagine all of these Mexican truck drivers are bilingual and are proficient in US federal/state rules of the road?

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 09-02-2007, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xotica

Not hardly lol. Have you ever driven in Mexico? Do you imagine all of these Mexican truck drivers are bilingual and are proficient in US federal/state rules of the road?

Is it profitable for companies operating out of Mexico to send drivers up here who will break the law and have their licenses suspended/revoked and their cargos impounded?

Xotica · 09-03-2007, 04:48 AM

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Originally Posted by W.E.B. Du Bois

Is it profitable for companies operating out of Mexico to send drivers up here who will break the law and have their licenses suspended/revoked and their cargos impounded?

This is a pilot program and driving regulations have not yet been established. Mexican trucking firms have estimated that 540 rigs will initially participate in this program. It is unknown which - if any - long-haul regulations will be enforced after this trial program terminates (ie. Canadian trucks have no operating restrictions within the continental United States).
Mexico trucks to roll on U.S. highways | Reuters

On another level, using Mexican truck drivers for transport will eventually erode the wage scale of their American counterparts. "This is the wrong decision for working men and women," Jim Hoffa, president of the Teamsters, said in a statement after the court ruling. "We believe this program clearly breaks the law." The Teamsters represents truckers that would be affected by the change.

This is another example of economic warfare by proxy. Wealthy corporations will again benefit financially as the US middle class continues to slowly yet inexorably morph into a third-world barrio class.

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 09-03-2007, 05:47 AM

I will use an economic argument. If companies hire Mexicans who are inept in English and the rules of the road, then not only will they face ordinary penalties for breaking the law, but a political backlash as well. Therefore, they will probably recruit competent drivers.

I don't agree with the "economic warfare by proxy" argument because there are currently NO AMERICANS, it seems, who deliver goods from Mexico to the United States. Therefore, you're not displacing any jobs. What this might do, is facilitate more jobs moving to Mexico since transportation is now easier. You could make your argument better that way.

If you are really against this, I would be playing up the security aspect, which I do think one can rightfully be worried about. This does increase the US' vulnerability to terrorist attacks. The counterargument is: do we now restrict our international trade because of terrorism? There are also counterarguments to that as well, such as terrorists could deliver the same payload through our ports.

Xotica · 09-03-2007, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.E.B. Du Bois

I will use an economic argument. If companies hire Mexicans who are inept in English and the rules of the road, then not only will they face ordinary penalties for breaking the law, but a political backlash as well. Therefore, they will probably recruit competent drivers.

I'm fairly sure that for this initial showcase trial run (pun intended)... competent drivers will be utilized. What is worrisome is what happens when all participant size constraints are removed. Do you imagine the private and small Mexican firm engaged in transporting wooden pallets will show the same care as the Mexican subsidiary of Intel transporting h/d chips?

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.E.B. Du Bois

I don't agree with the "economic warfare by proxy" argument because there are currently NO AMERICANS, it seems, who deliver goods from Mexico to the United States. Therefore, you're not displacing any jobs. What this might do, is facilitate more jobs moving to Mexico since transportation is now easier. You could make your argument better that way.

I wasn't referencing displacing Mexican jobs. I inferred economic warfare against American workers on two levels... via lowered wages and via displacement by Mexican illegals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.E.B. Du Bois

If you are really against this, I would be playing up the security aspect, which I do think one can rightfully be worried about. This does increase the US' vulnerability to terrorist attacks. The counterargument is: do we now restrict our international trade because of terrorism? There are also counterarguments to that as well, such as terrorists could deliver the same payload through our ports.

My apologies, I considered the counter-terrorism aspect obvious. I would also say this would increase trafficing in illegal aliens. In addition, extradition of Mexican drivers for felonies committed in the US would be problematic.

JeepKnut · 09-10-2007, 09:28 AM

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Originally Posted by theorderoflife

We are reaching the end of the United States.

I agree. How can The US survive as we know it in a "global economy" When the rest of the world )with a few exceptions)their also on the way out)makes a small fraction of what we make? Has no unions and has no environmental standards and our own Government has sold us out?

JeepKnut · 09-10-2007, 09:31 AM

All that matters is the money.
Capitalism is out of control!
Half the people can't think for themselves....we don't need a revolution, we need another civil war.